Mr Charles Frederick Shillabeer was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England on 2 December 1892.
He was the son of John Shillabeer (1856-1928), a mariner, and Emily Browning (1860-1920), both natives of Southampton who had married in 1879.
One of seven children, Charles' siblings were: Henry George (1881-1949), John (1884-1948), William James Richard (1888-1933), Florence Mabel (1890-1939, later Mrs Arthur Spencer), George (1896-1948) and Richard "Reggie" Pitts (1901-1968).
By the time of the 1911 census Charles is still at home and described as a bottler in a brewery, the family address at the time being 21 Nelson Road, Southampton.
By 1912 Charles had already begun a career at sea and when he signed on to the Titanic he gave his address as 21 Nelson Road, Southampton and his previous ship as the Oceanic. As a trimmer he could expect to earn monthly wages of £6, 10s
Charles Shillabeer died in the disaster and his body was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett and later buried on 8 May 1912 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
NO. 195. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 22. DARK - HAIR. CLOTHING - Dungaree pants; serge jacket and vest; grey flannel shirt. EFFECTS - B. S. F. Union book 995; papers. NO MARKS. TRIMMER. NAME - CHARLES SHILLABEER, 21 Nelson Road, Southampton. |
The following death notice appeared in the Hampshire Independent on 11 May 1912:
SHILLABEER--Charles, dearly beloved 4th son of John & Emily Shillabeer of 21 Nelson Road, Freemantle, Deeply mourned by his sorrowing father, mother, brothers & sister.
(Photos Courtesy of Trevor Baxter)
He is also remembered on the family headstone in Hollybrook cemetery Southampton section L5, plot 225 the headstone is in a bad state of repair the top half has been broken off.
Proud to display a plaque on the front of our house honouring this young man who lived here so long ago
He is my relative from my mothers side, researching my family tree thank you for the placque